3 Things I'll Miss About NCL, and 3 Things I Won't

[AndyCapn]

Yesterday was our fifth and likely final cruise with NCL, as their Casino At Sea program has ghosted us and we've started receiving much better offers from Celebrity. We have mixed feelings about this, as Norwegian was our exclusive cruise experience since 2015, until earlier this year and our first Celebrity cruise.

 

What we'll miss about NCL:

 

1) The Vibe. A great sanctuary for adults with no worries about finding a chair, towel exchanges, waiting for a drink or kids peeing in the hot tub.

 

2) Free at Sea Ultimate Beverage Package. $20/day for access to most of the drinks on the ship is a bargain.

 

3) Specialty Dining. Reasonably priced when you get it as a package, and dining out just elevates the evening. I'm especially going to miss you, four-mushroom soup at Le Bistro.

 

What I Will Not Miss

 

1) Elevators. The forward bank of 8 elevators with 2 separate operating systems is ridiculous. Rides stop on every floor because people (understandably) press the button for both systems. NCL should convert to destination dispatch elevators.

 

2) Noise. The public areas are loud whether it's a restaurant, casino or atrium. Partly acoustics, partly unlimited alcohol.

 

3) The Cruise Critic NCL Board. So many pointless arguments from the same people. I've learned if someone has more than 10,000 posts, it's pretty safe to add them to the ignored user list because despite their volume of work, almost none of it is helpful.

[RocketMan275]

25 minutes ago, AndyCapn said:

Yesterday was our fifth and likely final cruise with NCL, as their Casino At Sea program has ghosted us and we've started receiving much better offers from Celebrity. We have mixed feelings about this, as Norwegian was our exclusive cruise experience since 2015, until earlier this year and our first Celebrity cruise.

 

What we'll miss about NCL:

 

2) Free at Sea Ultimate Beverage Package. $20/day for access to most of the drinks on the ship is a bargain.

 

What I Will Not Miss

 

1) Elevators. The forward bank of 8 elevators with 2 separate operating systems is ridiculous. Rides stop on every floor because people (understandably) press the button for both systems. NCL should convert to destination dispatch elevators.

 

The beverage package is $109 PPPD after 1 Jan.

The $20 is gratutities which is added to the cost of the beverage package. IOW, It's $129 PPPD.

The forward bank of elevators have two different operating systems because only one bank goes all the way to the top decks.

[SeaShark]

This is a discussion forum, not an airport...you don't need to announce your departure.

[cruiseny4life]

25 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

This is a discussion forum, not an airport...you don't need to announce your departure.

Wait...you fall outside the 10k posts by a criticer. 

 

Sorry to see a Canadian go. They're so kind, eh! 

 

You know you could keep sailing Norwegian if you just book like the majority of us - paying the fare displayed in the booking engine. Then you could take your cheap-o Celebrity cruises and your NCL cruises. Happiness would ensue!

[Two Wheels Only]

1 hour ago, RocketMan275 said:

The beverage package is $109 PPPD after 1 Jan.

The $20 is gratutities which is added to the cost of the beverage package. IOW, It's $129 PPPD.

The forward bank of elevators have two different operating systems because only one bank goes all the way to the top decks.

 

You have too many posts so your post probably won't be seen by the OP. 😄

 

 

[DCGuy64]

3 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

Wait...you fall outside the 10k posts by a criticer. 

LOL

[RocketMan275]

2 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

You have too many posts so your post probably won't be seen by the OP. 😄

 

 

Where do I apologize for my inordiate number of apologizes?

[zqvol]

1 hour ago, RocketMan275 said:

The beverage package is $109 PPPD after 1 Jan.

The $20 is gratutities which is added to the cost of the beverage package. IOW, It's $129 PPPD.

The forward bank of elevators have two different operating systems because only one bank goes all the way to the top decks.

As long as the beverage package is included in free at sea it is not $109 PPPD

[scooter6139]

35 minutes ago, zqvol said:

As long as the beverage package is included in free at sea it is not $109 PPPD

 

OT - I see this discussion everywhere.  Has anyone actually broken it down for those refusing Free At Sea then buying all the same perks compared to the Fee at Sea package cost?  Wonder if there is a discount with the full package?

[SeaShark]

55 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Where do I apologize for my inordiate number of apologizes?

 

If the OP is truthful, then you're already on their ignore list, so there is no longer a place for you to apologize. 

[scooter6139]

2 hours ago, AndyCapn said:

What I Will Not Miss

 

-----

 

3) The Cruise Critic NCL Board. So many pointless arguments from the same people. I've learned if someone has more than 10,000 posts, it's pretty safe to add them to the ignored user list because despite their volume of work, almost none of it is helpful.

 

You should probably stay off CC Forums altogether then.  They all have the same thing.  

[Liljo22]

2 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

The beverage package is $109 PPPD after 1 Jan.

The $20 is gratutities which is added to the cost of the beverage package. IOW, It's $129 PPPD.

The forward bank of elevators have two different operating systems because only one bank goes all the way to the top decks.

He is talking about the Free at Sea drink package.  You are only paying $129PPPD if you either don't select the FAS upfront and have to buy it on the ship or if you are not the 1st and 2nd guest in the room.  If you are picking the FAS drink package, its still only $21.80PPPD for the gratutities.  

[ColeThornton]

[RocketMan275]

45 minutes ago, zqvol said:

As long as the beverage package is included in free at sea it is not $109 PPPD

You're confusing Free with Included.  Just because something is 'included' doesn't mean you're not paying for it.

[RocketMan275]

9 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

 

If the OP is truthful, then you're already on their ignore list, so there is no longer a place for you to apologize. 

Well, that's grand, I didn't want to apologize.

[RocketMan275]

4 minutes ago, Liljo22 said:

He is talking about the Free at Sea drink package.  You are only paying $129PPPD if you either don't select the FAS upfront and have to buy it on the ship or if you are not the 1st and 2nd guest in the room.  If you are picking the FAS drink package, its still only $21.80PPPD for the gratutities.  

Are meals in the included restaurants 'free'?  They're included in the cruise fare but that doesn't mean you're not paying for them.

 

As was said a long time ago:

"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." (TANSTAAFL).

 

As marketeers discovered a long time ago, the quickest way to convince you to pay for something was to convince you it was free.

[DCGuy64]

2 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Are meals in the included restaurants 'free'?  They're included in the cruise fare but that doesn't mean you're not paying for them.

 

As was said a long time ago:

"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." (TANSTAAFL).

 

As marketeers discovered a long time ago, the quickest way to convince you to pay for something was to convince you it was free.

You are SO right about that. (Like every time I hear people say education and health care are "free" in Europe). No such thing. But I digress...

That said, I was just looking at the difference in price on our cruise for a sail away balcony vs a balcony with FAS. The cabin price was only $99 different but the beverage package, if purchased onboard, would wipe those savings out in a hurry. I still think you save, but you are absolutely correct that "free" doesn't exist.

[RocketMan275]

3 minutes ago, DCGuy64 said:

You are SO right about that. (Like every time I hear people say education and health care are "free" in Europe). No such thing. But I digress...

I still think you save, but you are absolutely correct that "free" doesn't exist.

Anytime anyone used the term "Free", it's time to check your wallet.

I'm amazed at those who think because something isn't listed as a line item on the bill, it must be 'Free'.  I had one poster here claim that unless it was specifically stated that he paid for an item, it was 'Free'.

Edited December 2, 2022 by RocketMan275

[Liljo22]

7 minutes ago, scooter6139 said:

 

OT - I see this discussion everywhere.  Has anyone actually broken it down for those refusing Free At Sea then buying all the same perks compared to the Fee at Sea package cost?  Wonder if there is a discount with the full package?

Not including the excursion credit, on a 7 day cruise the drink, dining and wifi comes to $2,362.11 for two people.  I would be surprised if a sailaway rate savings is close to that.  Just looking at a random off season cruise in February(Bliss) and the Family Balcony with the perks is $3,085.86 and the sailaway rate is $2,485.06.  You are still saving $1700 by booking with the perks.  

[RocketMan275]

1 minute ago, Liljo22 said:

Not including the excursion credit, on a 7 day cruise the drink, dining and wifi comes to $2,362.11 for two people.  I would be surprised if a sailaway rate savings is close to that.  Just looking at a random off season cruise in February(Bliss) and the Family Balcony with the perks is $3,085.86 and the sailaway rate is $2,485.06.  You are still saving $1700 by booking with the perks.  

You maybe saving, but that doesn't mean it's free.

That price differential only shows how much the markup is on those 'free perks'.

[Liljo22]

9 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Are meals in the included restaurants 'free'?  They're included in the cruise fare but that doesn't mean you're not paying for them.

 

As was said a long time ago:

"There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." (TANSTAAFL).

 

As marketeers discovered a long time ago, the quickest way to convince you to pay for something was to convince you it was free.

Terrible argument.  If thats the case, you should be upset with everything in the world.  That free housekeeping you are getting at a land hotel isn't really free.  The free bread you get at a restaurant isn't free.  

 

I am cruising RCL lately and besides my cruises being more expensive than NCL, I am paying an additional $1100 for my wife and I to get the drink package.  I will gladly take NCL "not free" drink package any day of the week.  

[RocketMan275]

Just now, Liljo22 said:

Terrible argument.  If thats the case, you should be upset with everything in the world.  That free housekeeping you are getting at a land hotel isn't really free.  The free bread you get at a restaurant isn't free.  

 

I am cruising RCL lately and besides my cruises being more expensive than NCL, I am paying an additional $1100 for my wife and I to get the drink package.  I will gladly take NCL "not free" drink package any day of the week.  

The ones who are upset are those who realize that what they thought was 'free' really wasn't.

No one is saying that NCL's drink package isn't a good deal.  It can be, but that doesn't mean it's 'free'.

[ChiefMateJRK]

3 hours ago, AndyCapn said:

2) Free at Sea Ultimate Beverage Package. $20/day for access to most of the drinks on the ship is a bargain.

 

3 hours ago, AndyCapn said:

2) Noise. The public areas are loud whether it's a restaurant, casino or atrium. Partly acoustics, partly unlimited alcohol.

 

So you'll miss the unlimited beverage package but you won't miss the effects of the unlimited beverage package?  I'm not sure what the take away it here....

[looneyric]

3 hours ago, AndyCapn said:

3) The Cruise Critic NCL Board. So many pointless arguments from the same people. I've learned if someone has more than 10,000 posts, it's pretty safe to add them to the ignored user list because despite their volume of work, almost none of it is helpful.

And yet here you are starting another one grasshopper

[ChiefMateJRK]

3 hours ago, RocketMan275 said:

The beverage package is $109 PPPD after 1 Jan.

Please stop.  Nobody skips the FAS beverage package and then pays full price for the beverage package.  To your point, nothing is really "free".  My delta cost is somewhere between "free" and $109 PPPD to drink on the ship, but it ain't $109 per day.